2010-03-11  Svalbard Seed Vault becomes world's largest. The New York Times, US.

Half a million seeds, about one-third of the world's crop seeds, contains the Svalbard Global Seed Vault now. Thus it has become the world's most diverse collection only two years after its opening.

"Some of the regional seed banks are highly vulnerable," said Cary Fowler, executive director of the Global Crop Diversity Trust that oversees the seed collection. "At a regular basis, collections and varieties become extinct."

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2008-02-27  Doomsday vault for world's seeds is opened under Arctic mountain. Times, UK.

In a ceremony attended by Wangari Maathai and Norway's Prime Minister, the so-called "Doomsday Vault" was opened on February 27. The first day’s deposits comprised 268,000 samples and filled 676 boxes.

The collection and maintenance of the seeds has been co-ordinated by the Global Crop Diversity Trust, of which Cary Fowler is Executive Director.

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2008-01-31 "Doomsday" seeds arrive in Norway. BBC, UK.

The so-called "Doomsday Vault", constructed to preserve the world's most valuable seed heritage, is scheduled to be opened on February 26.

The first 7,000 seed samples from 36 African nations have already arrived in Norway. Other crop collections from all over the world, including India and South-American countries, are already being shipped to Svalbard, too.

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2007-05-28  UK grants 10m towards seed bank projects. Food Navigator, Europe.

Cary Fowler and his Global Crop Diversity Trust have succeeded in receiving major funds for their Arctic Seed Vault - a unique seed bank to preserve global food sources and crop diversity.

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